Russia's war on Ukraine. 17.09.25
Operational situation
On the Northern Slobozhansky direction, Russian troops attacked near Kindrativka, Andriivka, Oleksiivka, Varachyne, and went on the defensive in Yunakivka. The “Rubikon” Center for Advanced Unmanned Technologies struck the Romny compressor station.
Ukrainian Defense Forces attacked in Tetkino, counterattacked near Andriivka and Oleksiivka, and are completing the encirclement of the enemy in Oleksiivka. The 30th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 44th Army Corps will soon leave its positions in the village.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, Russian troops tried to advance to the left bank of the Vovcha river in Vovchansk, attacked in the direction of Lyptsi, and near Vovchansk, Vovchanski Khutory, Synelnykove, Ambarne, and Odradne.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian troops advanced along Sadova Street in Kupyansk, attacked near Kindrashivka, Krasne Pershe, Shaikovka, Zahryzove, Hrekivka, and in the direction of Petropavlivka, and Pishchane, and hold fire control over up to 5 km of the H26 Kupyansk – Kharkiv highway near Stepova Novoselivka.
On the Lyman direction, Russian troops tried to advance between Yampil and Dronivka, and near Serednie, Shandryholove, in the Serebriansk forest area. They also attacked in the direction of Derylove, Zarichne, Kolodyazi, Torske, and in the direction of Stavky, and took fire control of the dirt road and railway between Yampil and Dronivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces hold positions near Myrne and the dam north of the village and counterattacked in Zarichne.
On the Siversk direction, Russian troops tried to advance south of Novoselivka, and attacked near Dronivka, Serebrianka, Hryhorivka, Vyimka, and Pereyizne.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, Russian troops advanced on the southeastern outskirts of Kostyantynivka and along the T0504 Bakhmut – Kostyantynivka highway northwest of Stupochky. They also tried to advance northeast of Pleshchiivka, and attacked near Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Mykolaivka, Stupochky, Bila Hora, Pleshchiivka, Ivanopillya, Shcherbynivka, Katerynivka, Poltavka, Rusyn Yar, Volodymyrivka, and Sofiivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Poltavka and Rusyn Yar.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian troops attacked near Zolotyi Kolodyaz, Hruzke, Vilne, Shakhove, Zapovidne, Rodynske, Novoekonomichne, Chervonyi Lyman, Myrnohrad, Kozatske, Promin, Lysivka, Novoukrainka, Shevchenkove, Kotlyne, Udachne, Zvirove, and in the direction of Molodetske, and Novopidhorodnie. They also tried to advance on the western and southern outskirts of Pokrovsk.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Russian troops tried to advance north of Dachne and west of Orikhove, and attacked Novopavlivka, and near Filiya, Yalta, Ivanivka, Andriivka-Klevtsove, Sichneve, Oleksandrohrad, Komyshuvakha, Vorone, Maliivka, Ternove, and Shevchenkove.
On the Huliaypole direction, Russian troops advanced in the southeast of Novoivanivka and can try to use the advance in the western part of Donetsk Oblast to attack westward in the northeastern part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The enemy tried to advance northeast and south of Novoivanivka and north of Malynivka, and attacked near Berezove, Novomykolayivka, Olhivske, Poltavka, and Novoivanivka.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian troops attacked near Prymorske, Stepnohirsk, Novodanylivka, and in the direction of Kamianke.
On the Prydniprovske direction, Russian troops attacked near the Antonivka railway and road bridges and the islands in the Dnipro River delta.
General conclusion:
Engineering-sapper units of the Armed Forces of the DPRK contingent participate in demining Kursk Oblast along with the 89th, 90th, and 91st Engineering-Sapper Regiments of the enemy's “Sever (North)” Operational Grouping.
On the Kupyansk direction, the enemy grouping in the Borova area has decreased by 10-15% over the last two weeks due to significant losses.
On the Lyman direction, Russian troops in civilian clothes, in violation of the Geneva Convention, operate in Yampil. The 11th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces holds its positions in Yampil and the surrounding areas.
The enemy has significantly increased its offensive efforts on Lyman and Siversk. The enemy tries to squeeze the latter from three sides. The 70th Motorized Rifle Division of the 25th Combined Arms Army, deployed here, has begun to actively attack along the railway from Pereyizne in the general direction of Siversk. At the same time, troops of the 25th Combined Arms Army have reached the bank of the Siverskyi Donets River and prepare to cross it. The 3rd Combined Arms Army regroups in Verkhnyokamianske and looks for weaknesses in the Ukrainian defense. The enemy continues to advance on Lyman from the side of Zelena Dolyna, tries to open a new direction through Zarichne, and to operate along converging directions to level the front line. The concentration of the enemy on this bridgehead and its importance for the occupiers gives the 3rd Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces the opportunity to hold its positions and counterattack on a wide section of the front, while also blocking the enemy's advance on Borova.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian troops concentrate all available forces, including those from Kursk Oblast, and operational reserves. The enemy tries to attack the eastern flank of Myrnohrad with armored vehicles over the last few weeks.
Military units transferred to Dobropillya from Toretsk, not having had time to restore their combat capability, are not able to significantly influence Ukrainian Defense Forces, who possess the initiative here. For the third week in a row, the enemy loses previously captured territories near Pokrovsk. Marine units from Sumy Oblast are being hastily transferred to this direction. It is unlikely that the light and mobile units that have sustained significant losses in previous battles will have a decisive influence in future close combat in the town.
The enemy's operational formation near Pokrovsk significantly limits the massing of artillery and its use. The strike aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces partially tries to perform its role but cannot replace it completely.
The enemy is forced to stretch the front line in the southern direction, trying to level the front line in the northern direction, accelerating the advance of its left flank. The 90th Tank Division of the 41st Combined Arms Army, which delivered the main strike aiming to reach the Mezhova – Udachne line through Novopavlivka, has not fulfilled its objective. Ukrainian Defense Forces directed the enemy's troops into the inter-river area, where the enemy is limited in its maneuver, although it constantly tries to operate in the direction of Dachne – Filiya. The enemy's “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping failed to cross the Vovcha River. With active counterattacks, Ukrainian Defense Forces forced the “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping to shift the direction of the main strike further south. Trying to advance through Velykomykhailivka, bypassing Oleksandrohrad, the enemy tries to move in the northern direction, which is hindered by the combat formation that has stretched along the front from 15 km to 60 km, and this trend continues.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Russian troops attack in small groups of 2-4 soldiers and sustain heavy losses. The enemy tries to wedge into the gaps between Ukrainian units.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 183 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, 9 combat engagements occurred.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, 5 combat engagements occurred near Vovchansk, Vovchanski Khutory, and Lyptsi.
On the Kupyansk direction, 7 enemy attacks occurred. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled the enemy's assault actions in the direction of Kupyansk, Petropavlivka, Borivska Andriivka, and Pishchane.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 14 times, and tried to advance in the direction of Shyikivka, Shandryholove, Stavky, and near Kolodyazi, Novomykhailivka, Hrekivka, Serednie, and Torske.
On the Siversk direction, 23 enemy attacks were repelled. Occupier units tried to advance in the areas of Serebrianka, Hryhorivka, Fedorivka, and toward Vyimka, Yampil, and Dronivka.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, 22 combat engagements were recorded in the areas of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Shcherbynivka, Katerynivka, Poltavka, Rusyn Yar, and toward Ivanopillya and Pleshchiivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, 60 aggressor assault and offensive actions were stopped in the areas of Volodymyrivka, Vilne, Zolotyi Kolodiaz, Nykanorivka, Nove Shakhove, Shakhove, Myroliubivka, Rodynske, Chervonyi Lyman, Novoekonomichne, Promin, Lysivka, Zvirove, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Dachne, and Novoukrainka.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 25 enemy attacks near Filiya, Ivanivka, Olhivske, Oleksandrohrad, Maliivka, Sichneve, and Novoivanivka.
On the Huliaypole direction, the Defense Forces successfully repelled 2 enemy attacks near Poltavka.
On the Orikhiv direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled an attack in the area of Kamianske.
On the Prydniprovske direction, 2 occupier attacks were repelled.
Supporting operation:
The Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in cooperation with other Defense Forces, struck the Saratov Oil Refinery.
The partisan group "ATESH" committed sabotage at a railway junction near Sem Kliuchey on the outskirts of Yekaterinburg. Damage to railway relay equipment disrupted troop train movements on all strategic directions.
An operational unit of the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence committed an act of sabotage in a parking lot near the checkpoint of the 47th Separate Air Assault Battalion of the 155th Separate Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet in the village of Shchitovoe, Primorsky Krai.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 1st Battalion of the 1427th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 11th Army Corps operates in Tetkino.
The 204th Akhmat Regiment strikes Ukrainian positions near Vesele.
The 27th Artillery Regiment of the 6th Motorized Rifle Division of the 3rd Army Corps strikes Ukrainian positions in and near Kostyantynivka.
The 218th Tank Regiment of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division of the 5th Combined Arms Army advances in the direction of Vremivka.
Possible operation situation developments:
According to the assessment of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the enemy will not be able to achieve the goal of the so-called special military operation to capture the entire Donetsk Oblast by the end of 2025. Provided current dynamics of combat operations are maintained, the enemy will be able to capture Pokrovsk, Kostyantynivka, Druzhkivka, and Kupyansk no earlier than the end of the year, and reach the close approaches to Zaporizhzhia and the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration by early winter.
The command of the enemy's “Sever (North)” Operational Grouping, in cooperation with the right flank of the “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping, will expand its bridgehead northeast of Velykyi Burluk in the Southern Slobozhansky direction and will try to capture Khatnie.
On the Kupyansk direction, the enemy's immediate offensive objective is to block the city of Kupyansk from the north and northwest, cut off the Kupyansk – Dvorichna – Velykyi Burluk – Chuhuiv road, and have forward units of the 6th Combined Arms Army break through to Kupyansk. An additional objective for the enemy within the operational area of the 6th Combined Arms Army is to advance toward Velykyi Burluk.
On the Lyman direction, the 25th Combined Arms Army will completely capture the Serebriansk Forest as far as the Chorny Zherebets River leading to the withdrawal of troops of the 3rd Army Corps across the river in the direction of Yampil.
On the Siversk direction, in the short term, the enemy will continue to attack Siversk directly from the east and head-on from northeast, ignoring the southern direction.
Russian troops will try to cut off the H20 Kostyantynivka – Sloviansk highway. For this purpose they will attack in the directions of Oleksiyevo-Druzhkivka and Druzhkivka, complicating the logistics of the 19th Combined Arms Corps of the Defense Forces in Kostyantynivka, thereby contributing to the capture of the "fortress belt."
On the Pokrovsk direction, the 51st Combined Arms Army is currently focused on its immediate operational objective: to break through to the area of Shevchenko, Biletske, Rodynske, and Hryshyne and to block the entire defense area of Ukrainian Defense Forces within the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration from the north by cutting both roads that run from Pokrovsk to Dobropillya.
On the Orikhiv direction, the enemy's “Dnepr” Operational Grouping will continue the local offensive operation, trying to break through along the left bank of the Dnipro River from the Plavni – Kamianske line to Stepnohirsk and from the Stepove – Mali Shcherbaky line in a northern direction.
On the Prydniprovske direction, the command of the enemy's “Dnepr” Operational Grouping will continue trying to take control of most of the island zone in the Dnipro delta in the direction of Kherson, will try to create a tactical bridgehead on the right bank, and to eliminate the tactical bridgeheads of the 30th Marine Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces in the area of the automobile and railway bridges near Antonivka.
Russian operational losses from 23.02.22 to 17.09.25
Personnel - almost 1,097 450 (+1,020);
Tanks – 11,189 (+5);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 23,277 (+3);
Artillery systems – 32,846 (+36);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,490 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,217 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 61,878 (+108);
Aircraft - 422 (0);
Helicopters – 341 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 60,079 (+360);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 3,718 (0);
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
From the evening of September 16, Russian troops attacked Ukraine with an Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missile, an S-300 missile, and 172 Shahed-type, Gerbera UAVs and other drones. Air defense forces shot down or suppressed 136 drones, but missile hits and 36 drone hits were recorded in 13 locations. Over a hundred of the UAVs were strike “Shaheds.”
The Chairman of the Board of Ukrainian Railways, Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, reported another complex enemy attack on the railway and the resulting power outages. According to him, Russia, with its massive attacks on railway infrastructure, tries to destroy key hub stations of Ukrainian Railways.
On the night of September 17, Russians struck critical infrastructure in Cherkasy Oblast. The head of the Cherkasy Oblast Military Administration, Ihor Taburets, reported the hits but did not provide details.
On the night of September 17, Russians attacked infrastructure facilities in Kropyvnytskyi district, as a result of which fires broke out in three locations. Kropyvnytskyi and 44 settlements of the Oleksandrivka community were left without electricity. Several private homes were damaged, and train traffic was stopped on two directions. No one was injured.
In Poltava Oblast, on the night of September 17, the enemy attacked with unmanned aerial vehicles. Air defense worked. As a result of falling drone debris, a fire broke out in an open area of a business in Poltava district. There were no injuries.
One person was injured as a result of a Russian FPV drone strike on a minibus in Primorske, Vasylivka district, Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The drone hit a parked vehicle, and the bus was damaged.
Three adults and a 3-year-old child were injured as a result of a Russian guided aerial bomb strike on the village of Inhulets in Kherson Oblast on the morning of September 17. At the time of the enemy strike, the people were at home.
A Russian unmanned aerial vehicle dropped an explosive device on a 39-year-old resident of Kherson around 3:40 p.m. on September 17, as a result of which he sustained blast and traumatic brain injuries. In total, throughout the day, the Russian Federation's army attacked Kherson Oblast with aviation, artillery, and drones, injuring seven people, including a child.
Russian troops attacked Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with unmanned aerial vehicles, artillery, and guided aerial bombs during the day, as a result of which fires occurred and businesses, private homes, a post office, and a gas pipeline were damaged.
Due to shelling, emergency services and utility workers are being withdrawn from the settlement of Borova in Izium district, Kharkiv Oblast, to other locations.
On the evening of September 17, in Poltava district, a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle hit a gas station, causing a fire and injuring a man.
The Russian Federation's army has destroyed 70% of the town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, and 1,200 people still remain there.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted a law in its second reading and in general about the military ombudsman, who is called upon to protect the rights of military personnel of the security and defense forces, conscripts and reservists, members of volunteer territorial defense units, and special purpose police officers of the National Police of Ukraine.
Fighters of the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade took a Kenyan national prisoner on the Vovchansk direction. He was fighting on the side of the Russian Federation. The prisoner said that he allegedly came to Russia as a tourist, and after 2 weeks of "traveling," the man who hosted him in Russia asked if he liked Russia and if he would like to stay. According to the Kenyan, the Russian brought him some documents in Russian, which he signed, and then took his passport. The man was then taken away by a private car and ended up in a Russian military camp. He also stated that the Russians trained him for one week and only gave him a rifle. The Kenyan added that he was mostly surrounded by Russians, but there were also citizens of other countries, "like him." According to him, he decided to flee the Russian army and hid in the forest for two days and then came across Ukrainians and surrendered.